Indonesia and Malaysia expected to launch vaccinated travel lane early next year

The governments of Indonesia and Malaysia are expected to agree a vaccinated travel lane, or travel bubble, by early 2022, according to a Coconuts report. The arrangement would permit vaccinated people to travel between both countries without the need for quarantine on arrival.

The Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia, Hermono, confirmed the plan during a press conference yesterday. He says the Indonesian government is working with Malaysian officials to streamline travel for vaccinated passengers. Both governments are checking on the other’s Covid-19 track and trace measures. Hermono says Indonesian officials have already carried out checks on Malaysia’s MySejahtera contact-tracing app, describing it as similar to the Indonesian Peduli Lindungi.

“So far, the inspection has been conducted smoothly and the technical teams went to Singapore to conduct the same inspection there.”

Indonesia and Malaysia plan to introduce vaccinated travel lanes between Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta, as well as Kuala Lumpur and Bali. Both governments will recognise vaccines administered in either country, as well as standardising Covid-19 testing.

In related news, Indonesian officials visited Singapore last week, as part of preparations for a vaccinated travel lane between the city state and Indonesia. Singapore recently re-opened to vaccinated travellers from Malaysia, but officials have confirmed additional screening measures as a result of the emergence of the Omicron variant. Travellers in both directions must now also take an antigen test on day 3 and day 7.

Last week, Malaysia confirmed its first case of Omicron, which was reported in a student who had arrived from South Africa, via Singapore. There has been no confirmation from the Malaysian government as to whether the latest development might affect the country’s re-opening plans.

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SOURCE: Coconuts